Letters to the Editor December 22, 2008

I would like to respond to implications that there is an organized attempt to intimidate ‘Yes on 8’ supporters and that the ‘Yes on 8’ supporters are somehow more tolerant than their ‘No on 8’ opponents.

This is patently false.

During this campaign thousands of ‘No on 8’ signs were vandalized and stolen. Our equality activists have been spit on at rallies, had our cars vandalized, and worse.

So why did the news cover the actions of a few individuals against ‘Yes on 8’, and not cover any of the similar treatment against the ‘No on 8’ side? Simple. We don’t report it. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people have been brutalized for years. As a community we are used to being gay-bashed and murdered. So we don’t call the police or the press when our yard signs get stolen or when “mobs” of so-called-Christians protest our gatherings. You don’t hear about it on the news because we expect it and don’t report it, not because it doesn’t happen. And now the Mormon Church is running an organized advertising campaign to continue its lie that it is being targeted by mobs, to protect the church from the true allegations that they antagonize gays and misuse the political process.

Marriage Equality USA and other LGBT civil rights organizations abhor all forms of violence and property damage and discourage such behavior at every opportunity.

We want very much to engage in peaceful and productive dialogue with our opponents. My county chapter is currently organizing a food drive to donate to our local faith-based food bank. Many of the churches that run this food bank are anti-gay, and yet we are reaching out to them with love and forgiveness. I hope the Mormon Church leaders can find the love and forgiveness to reach out to the gay community too.

This is the season when everyone wants to give their loved ones the perfect gift, and here it is. It is easy to get, fits everyone on your list, makes you look like a hero, wastes no resources, pleases young and old, and is even tax deductible–besides doing immeasurable good right here in Tuolumne County.

It’s a donation to the Humane Society in the name of someone you want to surprise and honor. All you have to do is stop by the office with the money you planned to spend on “stuff,” and the volunteers will do the rest.

They’ll give you a Christmas card, add a card that announces your gift, and address and stamp the card for you. And you will have done a wonderful thing, because — especially during an economic downturn — a lot of bewildered pets have lost their homes and depend for their lives on the Humane Society.

In turn, the Humane Society depends entirely on public contributions, receiving no money from county or state or the national organization! So your gift will help the animals, delight your friends, and make you feel very good indeed. It’s about as perfect as a Christmas gift can get.

Cathy Lemp
Jamestown

Easing minds

To the Editor:

This is in response to the Dec 9 Union Democrat article about the deer that went through my daughter’s car window. I would like to clarify that only the deer’s head went through the window, shattering glass that landed on my 3-year-old granddaughter, Alexa. The story stated that the deer went through the window and landed on Alexa’s lap.

There has been a lot of calls of concern, and I would like to ease some minds. Also I would like to thank the two students walking by who helped my daughter, Sara, by holding Alexa while she moved the car from the road. We appreciate you very much.

Now for all the cars behind my daughter honking and yelling for her to get out of the way as she was pulling her baby girl from the broken glass with cuts to her little face and hands: Shame on you!!! Were you in that big of a hurry you couldn’t stop and help her or even see if she and Alexa were OK?

I was amazed when I got to my daughter to find her alone holding her baby girl in an extreme state of shock. It’s hard to believe not one person bothered to stay with her until I or the paramedics showed up. This is a good community with people who care about others. What happened? I can only hope you’re not from around here.

On behalf of myself, Sara and Alexa we would like to say thanks to the officers, paramedics and firefighters for their help. Because of your kind words, Alexa now believes the reindeer was only trying to look in the window for Santa.

God bless you all and have a Merry Christmas!

Shawn Lopez
Jamestown

Not fond of Fonda

To the editor:

So, Jane Fonda has been inducted into the California Hall of Fame.

That’s fine, I guess, but let’s not forget what she did during the Vietnam
War. While young men were fighting and dying, she was in Hanoi fraternizing with the enemy.

While protesting here at home, on the the streets of hometown America is constitutional right of freedom of expression, going over to the other side and denouncing the United States and the soldiers fighting there is treason. She should have been arrested and convicted as a traitor.

The only hall of fame she belongs in, is the one with Tokyo Rose and Berlin Betty.

As you can tell, this old soldier isn’t to fonda jane.

Al Temple
Jamestown

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